....to think my daughter's class has a right to a qualified teacher?

[pokemeinthemorning]

So we had a message tonight on the system to explain what is happening in my daughter's year 5 class. Apparently, their teacher will now be teaching another class because one teacher left two weeks ago and they have said they have 'dispensed of any supply staff'. Basically the TA will be teaching the class for the foreseeable future.
I know there are many dedicated and wonderful TA's who could make great teachers BUT we are not qualified to teach classes on a regular basis.
On questioning my daughter I found out that from the start of this year she has her teacher in class 2 days a week and the rest is taken on by the TA. We were not told about this.
As a TA myself, I know that they often cover classes but this is on a regular basis for a prolonged period of time.

I feel that this is very unfair and they should at least be employing supply teachers in the meantime.

Apologies for not being clear My friend is a school business manager.

She cannot be the business manager at the OP's school (which I thought someone was suggesting) because all the classes at her school have qualified teachers in charge of them and she would never suggest changing that just to save money.

Im intrigued on how to save so much money at a primary. Thats about 11% of the budget for an average 2 form entry primary with a nursery. Schools tend to aim for around 85% of the budget on staffing costs. It seems so little wriggle room if you are cutting nearly all the other spend. Mind you, we are at 90% of our budget is on staffing but we are a small school so 300,000 would be nearly a third of our total budget.

OP I'm a primary teacher, and I agree that's really not ideal at all. I will also be shocked if they are paying the TA a TA wage with teaching responsibilities! That's really taking the piss if so. I'm surprised the TA agreed to it to be honest. None of the (extremely hard working) TAs I know would want to do this in a million years.

@CateJW

Blame the tories not the school. They have trashed the education system. The majority of academies are a joke, as are the budgets. The grants for encouraging people to train as teachers have all but disappeared too. and still people vote for them?? Dont understand it myself. People forever critisising schools and GP's and police etc....seemingly oblivious that the problem with all of it, is lack of funds and red tape.

THIS. Great post @CateJW.

Still some people defending teachers I see. Justifying not being members of a union and taking action to stop themselves being treated like shit - all on the grounds of it wouldn't be doing right by the kids.

Utter double think. You would be doing it FOR the kids. And FOR education and the right to be taught by a qualified teacher to a decent standard.

Stop moaning, take action. Join a union and get out on strike! Stop being treated like dirt. Show the govt you won't stand for it! You have hard-earned labour rights. Use them.

Teachers are members of unions, we need their legal protection in case of accusations by pupils.

We went on strike, the public slated us for it.

@noblegiraffe Who cares what the 'public' think? They'll be as many who support you and cheer you on as don't.

The Tory press will do their best to whip up Mail/Express/Sun readers but you need a concerted cohesive message to parents to counter it.

Schools have the ace up their sleeve - they can communicate directly with parents and explain why they are going on strike.

But you don't need anyone's support, you just need to unite and show your strength and push back against all the crap thrown at you. You need to FIGHT.

They are in unions but unions are good at telling you what you can do and then leaving you to it with no back up.

Schools have the ace up their sleeve - they can communicate directly with parents and explain why they are going on strike.

Oh yes, I’m sure parents would support teachers closing schools to go on strike after the last couple of years.

There is no appetite among teachers to do that either.

There is no appetite among teachers to do that either.

Then teachers need to accept there will be no change. Do nothing=more of the same, or worse.

It might not be pretty to strike but at least it would fight against this dreadful downward slide of state education.

Then teachers need to accept there will be no change.

That's why they're quitting and we can't hire replacements.

There are way more parents than there are teachers. Why are they accepting this dreadful downward slide of state education? It's their kids.

Then teachers need to accept there will be no change

They are just leaving.

I’m surprised more parents aren’t bothered about their children not having a qualified teacher, to be honest. Clearly the OP was.

The teachers are in no way responsible for the disgraceful lack of funding in schools. Nor are they responsible for years of eroding away at the profession which enables money saving HTs to put unqualified staff in front of your children.

Lets be clear - the unions have been warning the public about this for years. Most parents don't care because to fund schools properly taxes would have to rise, or some other public service would have to be cut. There have been so many threads on MN over the past two years where is is clear that for many schools being kept open - by whatever means necessary - is all many parents care about. Even if that means putting a janitor in front of a class, or employing a non qualified person to teach A Levels.

But go ahead. blame the teachers for not fighting hard enough. You do know that there are millions more parents than there are teachers? Parents could have raised their voices. They could have not voted for a party that has cut and cut and cut education budgets. But they chose not to.

@Benjispruce5

They are in unions but unions are good at telling you what you can do and then leaving you to it with no back up.

Could you give an example?

I'm with those who are saying 'come on parents'.

Teachers get slated if we strike and after recent closures there is no way we would.

Parents, you have a much bigger and louder voice. The education system, under this government, is failing your children.